Manchester Police have arrested five people amid an investigation over allegations that Labour members ran “fake” independent candidates in order to divide the anti-Labour vote, helping secure Labour a possibly illegal victory in Tameside in the recent local elections.
The arrests are part of an ongoing police investigation into alleged fraud linked to local elections for the St Peter’s ward of Tameside Council, in a case that has intensified concerns over trust in the democratic process and renewed questions about the treatment of independent candidates in local politics.
The arrests follow reporting by the Manchester Mill, which alleged that “fake” independent candidates had been put forward in an attempt to split opposition votes in a ward ultimately won by Labour candidate Atta ul-Rasool. The allegations remain unproven at this stage and are now subject to the police investigation.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that four men and one woman, aged between 23 and 47, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud following concerns raised in relation to the St Peter’s ward election held on May 7.
Officers said the investigation centres on how candidates were nominated and represented during the election process, and whether electoral procedures were properly followed.
St Peter’s was the only contested ward in Tameside won by Labour during the local elections, with Atta ul-Rasool defeating Muslim independent candidate Ahmed Mehmood by a relatively narrow margin.
Two candidates listed as independents, Marie Fairhurst and Muhammad Ali, reportedly secured a combined total of 291 votes, prompting scrutiny from local campaigners and independent political figures who questioned whether those votes influenced the result.
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For many voters disillusioned with mainstream politics, especially in communities where independent Muslim candidates have increasingly emerged as challengers to Labour, the allegations have fuelled concerns over whether electoral contests are being conducted fairly and transparently.
However, no criminal charges have been brought and police have stressed that inquiries remain ongoing.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said officers had “launched a full investigation” after receiving reports about concerns surrounding candidates in the ward. Police added that they are examining whether the nomination process complied with “relevant legislation and electoral procedures”.
The investigation is being conducted alongside the Electoral Commission and local partners.
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said it was aware of the inquiry and stressed the importance of public confidence in elections, saying voters must have confidence in “the integrity of the electoral process.”
Labour has strongly denied wrongdoing with a party spokesperson claiming: “No evidence has been presented” of Labour Party involvement and rejected suggestions that the party played any role in the allegations. Labour said it would not comment further while police inquiries continue.
The developments come amid wider political turbulence in Tameside, where Labour suffered major losses in May’s local elections after decades of dominance, while independent and anti-establishment candidates made gains against the party’s traditional base.
